Last Report: 09/30/2020
Source: https://dl.ncsbe.gov/?prefix=ENRS/2020_11_03/

Returned and Accepted Mail Ballots

Ballots Returned: 280,353
Return Rate: 25.1%

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Party Registration

Party Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Democrats 150,196 53.6 540,520 27.8
Republicans 46,663 16.6 204,358 22.8
Minor 809 0.3 5,141 15.7
No Party Affiliation 82,685 29.5 366,677 22.5
TOTAL 280,353 100.0 1,116,696 25.1
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by 2016 Vote History

Note: North Carolina provides only aggregate request statistics, so it is impossible to generate ballot return rates by 2016 general vote.
Voted Count Percent
Voted in 2016 General 214,114 76.4
Did Not Vote in 2016 General 66,239 23.6
TOTAL 280,353 100.0

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Non-Hispanic White 203,042 72.4 747,229 27.2
Non-Hispanic Black 45,037 16.1 197,989 22.7
Hispanic 4,829 1.7 26,680 18.1
Non-Hispanic Asian American 4,801 1.7 27,649 17.4
Non-Hispanic Native American 933 0.3 4,694 19.9
Other/Multiple/Unknown 21,710 7.7 112,455 19.3
TOTAL 280,353 100.0 1,116,696 25.1

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Age

Age Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
18 to 25 12,032 4.3 92,269 13.0
26 to 40 30,379 10.8 193,284 15.7
41 to 65 92,525 33.0 411,040 22.5
66 and up 137,773 49.1 420,103 32.8
TOTAL 280,353 100.0 1,116,696 25.1

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Gender

Gender Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Female 148,726 53.0 605,856 24.5
Male 118,261 42.2 437,247 27.0
Unknown 13,366 4.8 73,593 18.2
TOTAL 280,353 100.0 1,116,696 25.1

Rejected

Ballots Rejected: 4,834
Rejection Rate: 1.7%

Most of these rejected ballots are for the ballot status reason of “WITNESS INFO INCOMPLETE”.

North Carolina election officials are required by state law to follow up with these voters. If you are a North Carolina voter concerned about your mail ballot, you can track the status of your ballot at the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

In the “All” mail ballot returned statistics, I add the mail ballots that are returned and accepted with the rejected ballots. Dividing the number of rejected by this quantity yields a rejection rate.

Mail Ballots Rejected by Party Registration

Party Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Democrats 2,976 61.6 153,172 1.9
Republicans 814 16.8 47,477 1.7
Minor 16 0.3 825 1.9
No Party Affiliation 1,028 21.3 83,713 1.2
TOTAL 4,834 100.0 285,187 1.7
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Rejected by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Non-Hispanic White 2,190 45.3 205,232 1.1
Non-Hispanic Black 1,946 40.3 46,983 4.1
Hispanic 160 3.3 4,989 3.2
Non-Hispanic Asian American 111 2.3 4,912 2.3
Non-Hispanic Native American 26 0.5 959 2.7
Other/Multiple/Unknown 401 8.3 22,111 1.8
TOTAL 4,834 100.0 285,187 1.7
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black

Requested

Ballots Requested: 1,116,696
Request Rate: 15.6%

Mail Ballot Requests by Party Registration

North Carolina registered Democrats have a 336,162 ballot request lead over registered Republicans.

Party Count Percent
Democrats 540,520 48.4
Republicans 204,358 18.3
Minor 5,141 0.5
No Party Affiliation 366,677 32.8
TOTAL 1,116,696 100.0

North Carolina releases an update to the voter registration file each Saturday. The voter registration numbers are from the most recent release and may be slightly dated.

All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballot Requests by Race and Ethnicity

Race Count Percent
Non-Hispanic White 747,229 66.9
Non-Hispanic Black 197,989 17.7
Hispanic 26,680 2.4
Non-Hispanic Asian American 27,649 2.5
Non-Hispanic Native American 4,694 0.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 112,455 10.1
TOTAL 1,116,696 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Age

North Carolina provides mail ballot request data in age ranges inconsistent with other states’ ranges. The age statistics presented here are not included in the national age statistics.

Age Count Percent
18 to 25 92,269 8.3
26 to 40 193,284 17.3
41 to 65 411,040 36.8
66 and up 420,103 37.6
TOTAL 1,116,696 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Gender

Gender Count Percent
Female 605,856 54.3
Male 437,247 39.2
Unknown 73,593 6.6
TOTAL 1,116,696 100.0